Real Madrid are ticking along steadily in LaLiga, comfortably leading the chasing pack after 17 matchdays.
The season is almost at its midway point and Los Blancos are well ahead of historical rivals Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the new contenders of Real Betis, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.
At this point in mid-December, Real Madrid are a long way ahead of everybody else. Nobody at Valdebebas is buying into the argument that their 35th title is already wrapped up, as they themselves have been involved in some memorable collapses. In 2014/15 Ancelotti’s own side led for 15 straight matchdays only to lose their lead, and nobody can forget the collapse under Carlos Queiroz in 2003-04.
The lessons from 2014-15 can teach Ancelotti’s current squad a lot, as that was the campaign that ultimately led to his departure.
“We won 22 games in a row, but we didn’t do well in the final phase of the season and I don’t forget that,” Ancelotti said recently.
“I know that traps appear in the second half of the season and what happened then can serve as a lesson.”
A super start
This 2021-22 season is Real Madrid’s best since the ‘Season of Records’ under Jose Mourinho in 2011-12 – a campaign that saw them reach 100 points and 121 goals. This current campaign has them on course for 93.8 points, while Atletico were champions last season on 86.
The current total of 42 points is six more than they had at this point of either of the last two seasons and 12 more than 2018-19.
Real Madrid’s 10 straight wins haven’t just launched them ahead of the La Liga pack and announced their quality in the Champions League, but they have also allowed Ancelotti to move to the top of the pile of Real Madrid coaches with the best win percentage.
The Italian’s win rate is now 75.35 per cent from 142 matches, bettering Manuel Pellegrini’s 75 per cent.
Mourinho is the only other coach to have broken the 70 per cent barrier.
Zinedine Zidane barely gets over 65 per cent, though he remains the coach with the second-most titles in the club’s history behind only Miguel Munoz.
Courtesy: MARCA
